Autumn in the air: Chili, pumpkins and haunted hay rides

Enjoy the Fall Harvest Festival, Sept. 21-22, with a corn maze, jumping bales, hayrides to the pumpkin patch and more at Pearce's Farm Stand in Walworth. File photo by Terry Mayer.

It's officially autumn this weekend, so do something to celebrate the changing season. Check out the haunted barn and haunted hay ride in Walworth, sample the goods at the chili cook-off in Palmyra, or learn more about how hibernating animals prepare for the winter in Eagle.

Hibernating Animals program, Sept. 21, from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit, Eagle. Get ready for the oncoming winter with Waldo the woodchuck, Maize the corn snake, and Jewel the ornate box turtle. Learn what animals do to get ready for their long winter's nap. Presented by The Wildlife in Need Center. Meet at the Ottawa Lake amphitheater.

Universe in the Park, Sept. 21, at dusk, at Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit, Eagle. Join astronomers from UW-Madison to explore the night sky. They will have a short slide show with pictures from space, then set up a big telescope to view the night sky up close.

Open Mic night, Sept. 21, and every third Saturday, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lakes, 319 N. Broad St., Elkhorn. Come and sing or play a tune or just listen. Refreshments served. (262)?723-7440, www.uulakes.org.

Rousing with the Roosters Breakfast, Sept. 21, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Old World Wisconsin outdoor historical museum, W372 S9727 Wisconsin Highway 67, Eagle. Try out the 19th-century lifestyle by doing some of the same chores farmers of the past did. (262) 594-6301, www.oldworldwisconsin.org

Discover Whitewater Marathon, Sept. 22, with half Marathon, 5K and Fit Kid Shuffle. This USTAF certified, purse race will include a corralled start for the half- marathon, a wheelchair division and post race events at both the Aquatic center and downtown. A pre-race spaghetti dinner and health expo will be offered the day before at UW-Whitewater campus. www.runwhitewater.com